Four Penn State New Kensington students were inducted to Tau Alpha Pi, the national honor society for engineering technology students for the 2020-2021 academic year. The society is recognized on the campus with a statue, which is where the inductees met for a distanced photo. The student inductees, from left to right, included: Steven Albright, Samuel Ramsey, Alex Polka and Nicholas Hwostow.
NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. – Four Penn State New Kensington students were recently honored with induction to Tau Alpha Pi, the national honor society for engineering technology students.
“This is a great way for students in our biomedical engineering technology (BET) and electro-mechanical engineering technology (EMET) programs to be recognized for their academic excellence,” said Joie Marhefka, assistant teaching professor and program coordinator of the BET program and society advisor at the campus.
The 2021 inductees included: Steven Albright, Nicholas Hwostow, Alex Polka and Samuel Ramsey. Students who are considered for the society include having 24 or more credits with at least a 3.5 cumulative grade-point average (GPA) or 48 or more credits a minimum 3.2 GPA. The students received certificates and pins and were inducted via a virtual ceremony on April 28.
“I am proud of these students, and they deserve recognition for their strong academic performance and perseverance through a year of hard work through a variety of pandemic challenges,” added Marhefka.
Tau Alpha Pi was founded in 1953 by Frederick J. Berger, an engineering technology educator and is open to top-performing associate- or bachelor-degree seeking students in engineering technology programs. Local chapters of the organization must nominate eligible students. In 1993, the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) began administering the society, which is also a member of the Association of College Honor Societies.
